15 0897 WSI Archaeology
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COCKLICK END FARMHOUSE AND BARN, SCHOOL LANE, EASINGTON CIVIL PARISH, LANCASHIRE: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING 1 Introduction 1.1 This written scheme of investigation (WSI) sets out the work proposed for the recording of the historic buildings at Cocklick End, as commissioned by the developer Mr John Thompson. The work is required by a condition of planning consent from Ribble Valley Borough Council for the conversion of house and barn to a single dwelling with other works (application no: 3/2013/0538), attached on the recommendation of the Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS). 2 Location 2.1 The site is an outlying, disused farmstead located at NGR: SD 73793 58368, in Easington civil parish, about 6km north of Slaidburn. It forms part of the area known as Dalehead, much of which is now beneath Stocks Reservoir, or occupied by Gisburn Forest plantations. 2.2 The farmstead has a linear plan, comprising a small house with a date-stone of 1727 at the south-west end, and an adjoining combination barn dated to 1827 at the north-east end. All parts are derelict and the house has been unoccupied since the second half of the 20th century. 3 Project context 3.1 None of the buildings at the site are listed, or lie within a conservation area, but the LCAS consider them to be a non-designated heritage asset and include them on their Historic Environment Record, as PRN 13407. On their advice, the planning authority attached a condition to the consent (no 8), requiring that: “No works shall take place on the site until the applicant or their agent or successors in title, has secured the making of a detailed record of the building. This must be carried out by a professionally qualified archaeological/building recording consultant or organisation in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which shall first have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.” 3.2 It is anticipated that the report and archive to be compiled during this project will allow this condition to be discharged. 4 Archaeological and historical background © Stephen Haigh Buildings Archaeologist October 2015 Cocklick End Farmhouse and Barn, School Lane, Easington civil parish, Lancashire: Written Scheme of Investigation for Historic Building Recording 4.1 The site has not yet been visited by this author but a detailed heritage assessment and statement submitted with the planning application1 suggests that although dated to the 18th and 19th centuries, there is a possibility that the farm has 17th century origins. The buildings appear not to have been significantly altered since the mid 20th century and therefore there is an opportunity to record them in this historic condition prior to their redevelopment. 5 Aims of the project 5.1 The refurbishment, conversion and other works will lead to the loss or masking of some historic features and the buildings’ historic character. The aim of the project is to identify, interpret and record significant evidence relating to their historic character and development, and place this in the public domain by deposition with the Lancashire Historic Environment Record and Lancashire Archives. 6 Statement of recording standards 6.1 All work which forms part of this project will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant Standards and Guidance issued by the Institute for Archaeologists. 7 Methodology 7.1 Recording will be carried out with the buildings as found and will include drawn, photographic and written records. Limited historical research will also be carried out. It should be noted that the derelict and potentially dangerous condition of the buildings may prevent access to some areas. 7.2 The drawn record will comprise plans of the buildings’ ground floor, and if access permits the first floor, at 1:100 scale, and additionally a cross-section drawing at 1:50 scale, where possible based on an existing survey by the owner’s agent. Conventions used will be those specified by English Heritage.2 7.3 An external and internal photographic record of all buildings within the development area will be made using a digital camera with a resolution of 12 mega pixels, using RAW format files for image capture and converted to 8 bit TIFF files for archive purposes. Prints will be produced at approximately 5 x 7”. This photographic record will also include general shots of the site, to show the setting. 1 Peter de Figueiredo 2012 Cocklick End Farmhouse, Forest Of Bowland, Lancashire: Heritage Statement 2 English Heritage 2006 Understanding Historic Buildings © Stephen Haigh Buildings Archaeologist October 2015 Cocklick End Farmhouse and Barn, School Lane, Easington civil parish, Lancashire: Written Scheme of Investigation for Historic Building Recording 7.4 A desk-based study of the site will take place, which will examine historic maps and any other readily available documents, photographs and secondary sources held at local repositories, including Lancashire Archives and Clitheroe Library. 8 Report preparation 8.1 A report on the recording will be produced within 8 weeks of completion of the fieldwork. Copies will be supplied to the client and the Lancashire County Archaeology Service, and the owner or his agent will submit it to the local planning authority when applying for the condition to be discharged. It will also be published on the internet via the OASIS project. The report will be illustrated appropriately, with location maps, extracts from historic maps, copies of the survey drawings, and selected photographs. 9 Archive deposition 9.1 The project archive (including a copy of the report) will be submitted to Lancashire Archives. Photographic data will be uploaded to two separate servers. 10 Timetable 10.1 The site work is expected to take place during November 2015. 11 Personnel 11.1 All work will be undertaken personally by Stephen Haigh MA, an experienced buildings archaeologist with several years experience of investigating and recording historic buildings in Lancashire and elsewhere. He reserves the right to seek amendments to this project design where dictated by professional judgement or health and safety considerations for example, but any changes will be agreed with the client and the LCAS as appropriate. © Stephen Haigh, 27 October 2015 11 Browcliff, Silsden, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 9PN mailto:[email protected] Tel: 01535 658925 © Stephen Haigh Buildings Archaeologist October 2015 .